NEW HAVEN >> Democratic lawmakers hit the road Friday with a message for their constituents: the Affordable Care Act is working.

A group of 20 U.S. senators offered a counter narrative to the Republican Party’s criticisms of President Barack Obama’s signature legislation.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., met with members of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans at the Dixwell Senior Center on Friday in the first of a series of meetings with constituent groups over the next few weeks.

“This is an effort of about 20 United States senators to really go on offense to explain to the American people all of the ways the Affordable Care Act is working,” Murphy said.

Murphy talked with seniors this week, but will meet with other constituent groups affected by the law in the next few weeks including, cancer patients, women and young adults.

Murphy joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in the campaign to change the tone of the conversation around the Affordable Care Act.

“It’s no secret that in the opening days of enrollment last fall there were some hiccups, but that has created the mis-impression that the Affordable CareAct isn’t working when exactly the opposite is true,” Murphy said.